Lifting Procedures For Reducing Or Preventing Back Pain
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Many people don't realize the importance of lifting objects properly in order to avoid hurting their backs. One of the leading causes of back injuries are due to people lifting heavy objects improperly. In this article I will go over the proper procedures for lifting heavy objects in order to avoid back pain.
Lifting things doesn't have to be hazardous, whether you're at home or at work. Many people put lots of stress on their backs on a regular basis, especially those who have jobs in warehouses or delivery companies. Even those who don't spend lots of time lifting heavy objects can make their backs prone to injury over time even if they lift small objects if they do it improperly.
There are two primary mistakes that many people make when lifting objects. The first mistake is using the wrong muscles to lift up objects. You're supposed to use the muscles in your legs and buttocks instead of the muscles in your back.
It is always important to bend your knees when lifting an object off the floor. This gives your spine a level foundation and avoids putting too much stress on it. It is important to keep your upper body vertical when lifting instead of horizontal. Having your upper body horizontal will put a lot of stress on your lower back. This pressure could be hundreds of pounds, and eventually you'll suffer a slipped disc or sprain.
The second mistake people often make is lifting an object too far from their bodies. It is important to be as close as possible to whatever you're lifting. By holding the object close to you, the amount of pressure exerted on your spine is reduced.
You want to hold the object by its center and keep it eight inches away from you when you lift. Keep your upper body vertical and use the muscles in your knees and buttocks in order to lift it. By doing this you avoid damaging you back. You also want to avoid twisting your upper body when you left objects as this can add pressure to your spine as well.
Lifting objects properly in order to avoid back pain is important. If you lift a ten pound object at arms length, you are putting at least one hundred and fifty pounds of pressure on your lower back. If you hold an eighty eight pound object at arms length, a massive seven hundred pounds is being exerted on your back.
Lifting things doesn't have to be hazardous, whether you're at home or at work. Many people put lots of stress on their backs on a regular basis, especially those who have jobs in warehouses or delivery companies. Even those who don't spend lots of time lifting heavy objects can make their backs prone to injury over time even if they lift small objects if they do it improperly.
There are two primary mistakes that many people make when lifting objects. The first mistake is using the wrong muscles to lift up objects. You're supposed to use the muscles in your legs and buttocks instead of the muscles in your back.
It is always important to bend your knees when lifting an object off the floor. This gives your spine a level foundation and avoids putting too much stress on it. It is important to keep your upper body vertical when lifting instead of horizontal. Having your upper body horizontal will put a lot of stress on your lower back. This pressure could be hundreds of pounds, and eventually you'll suffer a slipped disc or sprain.
The second mistake people often make is lifting an object too far from their bodies. It is important to be as close as possible to whatever you're lifting. By holding the object close to you, the amount of pressure exerted on your spine is reduced.
You want to hold the object by its center and keep it eight inches away from you when you lift. Keep your upper body vertical and use the muscles in your knees and buttocks in order to lift it. By doing this you avoid damaging you back. You also want to avoid twisting your upper body when you left objects as this can add pressure to your spine as well.
Lifting objects properly in order to avoid back pain is important. If you lift a ten pound object at arms length, you are putting at least one hundred and fifty pounds of pressure on your lower back. If you hold an eighty eight pound object at arms length, a massive seven hundred pounds is being exerted on your back.
posted by Healthy Life @ 11:16 PM,
The Human Digestive System Part 1
Thursday, November 20, 2008
All animals, fungi and humans are heterotrophs. A heterotroph is an organism that obtains their nutrition by breaking down organic molecules in foods. The digestive system varies depending on the type of organisms; Fungi have the simplest system and humans having the most elaborate. Like the digestive systems in all organisms, the digestive system of the human is vital for survival.
Most of the organs in the human body play a roll in the digestion of nutrients. A nutrient basically is any element or compound essential to maintain life and health. Nutrients can be split up into 2 parts; Essential nutrients and Non-essential nutrients. Essential nutrients include vitamins, minerals, amino acids, fatty acids and some carbohydrates as a source of energy. Non-essential nutrients are nutrients which the body has the ability to synthesis from other compounds, as well as, from food sources. Macro nutrients are nutrients that the body needs to acquire daily in large amounts to sustain good health, and micro nutrients are nutrients the body needs very little of and are often stored in the body; both are vital. These nutrients are found in the food we eat, this is where the body must break down and digest the food and "extract" the nutrients from it.
Believe it or not, gravity helps the body digest food. Think of the digestive system as an organic assembly line that starts at the mouths and ends at the anus and urethra. There is anywhere from 10 main parts to 100's of parts of the digestive system, depending on how detailed it needs to be explained. The digestive system is truly a marvelous attribute we have and should not be taken for granted, or be neglected. This is why a good general knowledge of the digestive system is important, not only for self/health awareness, healthy living and BIO class but because it is indeed, truly fascinating.
It all starts in the brain. The brain sends signals to the organs involved in digesting, to the muscles, mouth, glands and every thing that is living in the body. It produces hormones that make us hungry and do an assortment of other tasks that aid the digestive system. The hypothalamus (part of the brain) has two centers that control hunger. One is the appetite center, the other the satiety center. The body produces 3 main hormones that control digestion. The hormones that control digestion are gastrin, secretin, and cholecystokinin (CCK).
Gastrin causes increased stomach acid secretion and mobility of the digestive tract to move food. It is also necessary for the normal growth of the lining of the stomach, small intestine, and colon.
Secretin causes the pancreas to send out a digestive juice that is rich in bicarbonate. It stimulates the stomach to produce pepsin, an enzyme that digests protein, and it also stimulates the liver to produce bile.
CCK causes the pancreas to grow and to produce the enzymes of pancreatic juice, and it causes the gallbladder to empty.
Two others that control appetite are; Ghrelin which is produced in the stomach and upper intestine in the absence of food in the digestive system and stimulates appetite and Peptide YY which is produced in the GI tract in response to a meal in the system and inhibits appetite. They both help the brain regulate the intake of food for energy.
The Mouth:
The moment you take a bite of that apple or pull that tasty piece of chicken off of your fork with your teeth, into your mouth, the digestive system kicks in. As the mouth chews the body starts signaling the rest of the digestive system, preparing it for the work ahead. The salivary glands secrete Salivary Amylase and Ptyalin enzymes begin the chemical breakdown of starch into glucose. IgA antibodies are also found in saliva, also found present is lysozyme; an anti bacterial enzyme. Bicarbonate ions in saliva neutralize the acids in foods. Mucus moistens the food and lubricates the esophagus and then we swallow.
Esophagus:
Not much happens in the Esophagus. Its major role in digestion is directing the food into our stomachs and not our lungs, and keeping stomach content from spilling upwards into it ("heart burn" -> "esophagus burn"). The Esophagus has a sphincter that closes the stomach off from itself. Without it standing on our heads would be a messy and painful maneuver. It also has a small flap that directs water and food down into our stomach and air into our lungs. Carbohydrate digestion, begun by salivary amylase in the mouth, continues in the bolus (word for chewed up food) as it passes thru the esophagus into the stomach. The food reaches the stomach and that’s where the body really starts to work.
posted by Healthy Life @ 11:16 PM,
Retinoblastoma treatment
Thursday, November 13, 2008
The treatment of retinoblastoma is often dependent on the individual sufferer in question. Many variables must be considered by the doctors involved. The age of the child, whether or not the cancer has spread to other areas of the body such as the brain or central nervous system and if the retinoblastoma has presented in just one or both eyes are just some of the considered questions.
A lack of treatment would result in the probable death of the child, and naturally, this is not a common option. Depending on how early the retinoblastoma is diagnosed, the goal of treatment varies. Sometimes the goal is to save life. At other times, the considerations are more cosmetic such as preserving the appearance of the eye and face or perhaps more importantly, maintaining the vision in that eye or both eyes.
The most commonly used treatment for Retinoblastoma is called Enucleation. Enucleation is a procedure whereby the eye is surgically removed in order that the cancer itself can be removed. The child is put to sleep and the eye is then removed. The operation typically takes less than an hour to complete and is not painful. The areas surrounding the eye, such as brow and eyelid, are also not negatively affected.
Children who have undergone an enucleation frequently return home the same day. A ball of plastic or rubber is placed where the original eye was, in order that there is no cavity. After the eye socket heals properly, the child can then be examined for future cosmetic alterations to improve the look of the eye, which will at first appear not dissimilar to the skin underneath the lips.
The child can typically be considered for prosthesis three weeks after surgery. The prosthesis is made of a plastic substance and is designed by a technical artist to look exactly like the child’s other, real eye. Because of the restrictions on muscle control, the eye does not move quite as naturally as a real eye would. Normally, these prosthetic eyes will move up and down fairly well but there may be some problems moving side to side. However this is purely cosmetic, as the eye does not do any ‘seeing’ for the child. As yet, there is no safe way to transplant or replace a real eye.
posted by Healthy Life @ 11:16 PM,
Helpful Tips to Keep in Mind for Those Afflicted with Xeroderma Pigmentosum
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Xeroderma pigmentosum is a rare medical condition whereby individuals are unable to have direct contact with the sunlight and other sources of ultraviolet rays. Although it is classified as a rare disorder, it is one that is particularly burdensome and serious for those afflicted with xeroderma pigmentosum. The following paragraphs will provide some general tips for those afflicted with this condition to keep in mind.
Avoid All Ultraviolet Light Whenever Possible
As the symptoms individuals experience are due to direct contact with sunlight and other ultraviolet light sources, the most important guideline to follow is to avoid all contact with ultraviolet light. This is the best way to attempt to control symptoms from occurring due to the xeroderma pigmentosum.
Maintain Copies of Diagnosis
It is important that other individuals who need to know about the xeroderma pigmentosum have copies of the doctor’s diagnosis. This will help to ensure that all necessary measures are taken to keep the individual out of the sunlight.
Obtain Handicapped Parking Decal
Should it be necessary for the individual with xeroderma pigmentosum to travel in the car, it is extremely important that the individual and their family have a handicapped parking sticker for the vehicle. This will enable them to get the closest spot possible and avoid any prolonged sunlight exposure.
Keep Necessary Receipts
Receipts which come from the purchase of necessary items for the individual with xeroderma pigmentosum should be saved for tax reasons. Since these are necessary items for one’s survival, they may be able to be deducted when one files their tax returns.
Find a Doctor Who Has Evening Hours or Makes House Calls
Since this medical disorder is one of a special nature, one may be able to find a doctor who is willing to schedule late evening appointments or come to the house for medical visits. This will help to prevent the individual from getting into the direct sunlight to go in for an office visit.
These are just some things which may help the individual with xeroderma pigmentosum to deal with their medical condition in the best way possible.
posted by Healthy Life @ 11:16 PM,
